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St. Ann’s Episcopal Church (summer only!) in Kennebunkport is a very special place. It’s where Wayne and I got married, where we worship and where we’ve made connections. This past Saturday they had their annual Blessing of the Animals, and people bring their dogs and cats for this service.

Many know how dear chipmunks are to me.

I decided to make a donation for the altar flowers this past Sunday for thanksgiving to chipmunks! This message gets printed in the program, too, but not read aloud.

I prayed that it would be noticed by some (there were other donors and messages) and maybe give some pause/paws because chipmunks are blessings and deserve to be blessed in turn.

Well!!! That Sunday morning there were maybe over two hundred people at the 8 a.m. service including President Bush. During the service Reverend Hoare mentioned the Blessing of the Animals, and then said: “I wonder if today’s thanksgiving to chipmunks had something to do with that?” People laughed and smiled and I couldn’t believe how blessed I was to have my humble thanksgiving said out loud for all to hear, including our former President Bush!

After the service Rev. Hoare asked me in a most curious and earnest way without any judgment: “Why chipmunks?”

My short answer is that they are a blessing to me. The long answer is a book about faith, fighting the good fight and never apologizing for loving and sticking up for God’s wild creation.

More times than not I feel like a failure at my ministry of inspiring others to be kind to the underdogs in our yards, so this morning felt like I had a win. And others came up to me asking the same question, while those who know gave me the greatest smiles.